Athy landlord ordered to pay tenant he left in dark €8,000
The Carlow offices of the Workplace Relations Commission where this case took place
This is when its adjudicating officer Seamus Clinton ruled: “I find prohibited conduct occurred… (and) the effects of discriminatory treatment had serious consequences for the complainant who was left in a precarious situation”.
He had earlier heard testimony from both the complainant and her foster mother which he described as “consistent”.
There was no appearance on behalf of the landlord, prompting Mr Clinton to say: “I can draw inferences from the respondent’s failure to provide information”.
The commission had heard how the young woman had started renting the property on 15 January 2024 at a rate of €1,900 a month, paid a month’s deposit, and got assistance of two months rent from her college.
Because of the expense of the rent, the complainant had to apply for the local authority’s Housing Assistance Programme (HAP).
Both her and her foster mother gave evidence under oath that they had discussed this with the landlord and he agreed.
However, he then ignored the student for a month and couldn’t be contacted to sign HAP forms after Kildare County Council sought further information about proof of ownership of the property.
The woman sought the advice of a housing support agency at this stage, and they advised withholding rent.
The WRC said this caused the landlord to get abusive, and he disconnected the electricity to the property by removing the main fuse, prompting her to call the gardaí.
She took the case under the Equal Status Act – which is ruled on by the WRC.
This prohibits discrimination in buying and selling goods or providing services, with Section 3 of the Act specifically “prohibiting discrimination in relation to the provision of accommodation”.
“In failing to provide information on HAP, the respondent was engaging in prohibited conduct,” ruled Mr Clinton.
